first tax filing reports are in

data table
* total tax returns processed includes returns received in the prior or current year and processed in 2025. # total refunds issued represents refunds for returns received and processed in 2025, which reflects current year returns only. however, the number of direct deposit refunds represents refunds for both current and prior year returns processed in 2025, which makes this figure larger than the “total number of refunds” listed for the current year.

 

refunds are up; everything else is down.

by beth bellor

the first week of tax season is over! cue the applause!

some of you seem less than excited. we know it’s early. all too early.

more: steve yoss: unlocking business insight with power bis | quick tax tip | more than 1 million erc claims still not processed | art werner: the godfather and tax issues | quick tax tip | advanced tax preparers need managing, too | the top ten problems the irs still needs to fix | tax pros gear up for a better busy season | irs processing up; payouts down | help tax clients help you | four challenges of managing new tax preparers
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

still, it’s time to begin our weekly tally of how things are going, starting with 13.2 million individual income tax returns received as of jan. 31, down 14 percent from the same period in 2024. the total returns processed was 11.7 million, down 15.8 percent.
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cut down your tax work in progress

bonus: it’s cheaper than adding capacity.

by frank stitely
the relentless cpa

want to increase profitability and client retention? manage projects effectively.

if you don’t have these measures, get them, or turn in your ceo title. if, as a value pricer, you’ve sworn off practice metrics based on productivity, you’ll learn nothing from this article. you just don’t have the numbers. mark cuban is on hold waiting to yell at you.

more by frank stitely
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

there are only three ways to increase client happiness and thus increase retention:

  1. lower your prices
  2. decrease the turnaround time for client work
  3. increase quality

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staffing, tech, prices top tax pros’ concerns

bar chart

 

small businesses are advised to prepare for change.

join the busy season barometer. get the results

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

if you think we’re in for a year of stability and calm, you haven’t been paying attention.

whether you think the nation and the world are moving in the right direction or the wrong, one thing we can all agree on is: we’re in for some change.join the survey

more: more than 1 million erc claims still not processed | art werner: the godfather and tax issues | quick tax tip | advanced tax preparers need managing, too | the top ten problems the irs still needs to fix | tax pros gear up for a better busy season | irs processing up; payouts down | help tax clients help you | art werner: beneficial ownership and control | four challenges of managing new tax preparers | irs funding pays eye-popping 415x roi | tax season 2025 begins. ready or not. | every tax reviewer should be able to answer these ten questions
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

if you need details on that, consider yourself lucky. return to your cave and go back to sleep.

on the other hand, if you’re an accountant, you need to stay awake, monitor the political-economic-financial situation and keep your clients advised. they need you now more than ever.
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more than 1 million erc claims still not processed

line and bar chart

fraud didn’t help, but it’s not to blame for all of the delays.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

congress established the employee retention credit to help businesses survive the covid-19 pandemic. the program saved a lot of companies – as evidenced by today’s buoyant economy – but many employers filed fraudulent or otherwise ineligible claims.

how many? at one point, the irs said that tax professionals were estimating that 95 percent of claims that came to them were ineligible. the professionals blamed “promoters” who were aggressively pushing people to apply regardless of the rules.

more: art werner: the godfather and tax issues | quick tax tip | advanced tax preparers need managing, too | the top ten problems the irs still needs to fix | tax pros gear up for a better busy season | irs processing up; payouts down | help tax clients help you | four challenges of managing new tax preparers | irs funding pays eye-popping 415x roi | tax season 2025 begins. ready or not. | every tax reviewer should be able to answer these ten questions | taxpayer advocate sees big improvements at irs
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

in fairness to the employers claiming the tax credit, the rules were very nuanced, complex and hard to understand. while some of the claims were intentionally fraudulent, many were innocently ignorant of their ineligibility.
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tax pros see better year for those close to home

young man facing image of himself

nationally … they’re not so sure.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

cpas, enrolled agents and other tax practitioners are always on the front line of the economy. with offices in tens of thousands of locations across the country, they know who’s making money and who’s struggling.

according to early results from the 2025 busy season barometer, accountants have completely reversed their 2024 predictions for the economy.

more: art werner: the godfather and tax issues | quick tax tip | advanced tax preparers need managing, too | the top ten problems the irs still needs to fix | tax pros gear up for a better busy season | irs processing up; payouts down | help tax clients help you | art werner: beneficial ownership and control | four challenges of managing new tax preparers | irs funding pays eye-popping 415x roi | tax season 2025 begins. ready or not. | every tax reviewer should be able to answer these ten questions | taxpayer advocate sees big improvements at irs | ask tax clients the right questions | major changes to circular 230: implications for tax professionals | cornerstone report
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

a mirror image

what a difference a year can make. look how the numbers have switched places, almost as if in a mirror image.
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